Islamabad [Pakistan], Jan.12 : Heads of various business chambers in Pakistan have expressed concern over reports that China is planning to set up or establish industrial units and warehouses under the ongoing over 50 billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Media reports and sources have quoted representatives of the chambers of commerce and industry of Gujarat, Gujranwala and Sialkot, as saying that Pakistan runs the risk of turning into a purely consumer-driven market if clearance is given for such planning.

Islamabad [Pakistan], Jan. 10 : The Pakistan government has begun consultations for a constitutional amendment to reinstate military courts for a period which will be decided by political parties in Parliament.

The announcement, which came during a high-level government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday, came a day after the special military courts ceased to function upon expiration of its mandated period, reports the Express Tribune

The meeting emphasised that military courts had played an important role at a crucial juncture against terrorism and extremism, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister's House.

The courts translated actions under operation Zarb-e-Azab to meaningful and tangible national gains, it added.

Islamabad [Pakistan], Nov. 19 : Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law and member of the National Assembly (MNA) retired Captain Mohammad Safdar has alleged that Sharif's personal secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad has been calling shots relating to promotion of senior bureaucrats and is making the decisions according to his own desires.

Safdar called for an end to the practice, suggesting that a parliamentary committee should be formed to deal with promotion of officers of grade 20 and above. He said the decisions should be taken on the basis of the officers' performance and track record, reports the Dawn.

Quetta (Balochistan) [Pakistan], Nov. 13 : Pakistan Prime Minister will today attend a ceremony to commemorate the first Chinese trade convoy being exported to the Middle East and African countries through the Gwadar Port developed under the controversial China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Meanwhile, the first trade convoy carrying goods for export through the western route of the CPEC and a Chinese ship arrived at the Gwadar Port on Friday, while second trade convoy comprising over 100 containers, arrived yesterday, reports the Express Tribune.

The goods would be exported through Gwadar port to the Middle East and African countries.

Lahore [Pakistan], Oct. 29 : Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Friday cancelled a rally scheduled for today with leader Shireen Mazari saying the resistance shown by PTI workers on Friday was kept to a minimum as the party plans to focus on its November 2 sit-in.

"A rally was scheduled earlier for Saturday for public mobilisation, but now that the public is already mobilised following the government crackdown, we see no further need to hold the rally tomorrow," said a PTI official.

Islamabad [Pakistan], Oct.11 : After a journalist from Dawn was put on Pakistan's Exit Control List following his article that reported a rift between the country's civil and military leaderships, the newspaper asserted on Tuesday that it stands by the report and accused the government of "scape-goating the newspaper in a malicious campaign."

Cyril Almeida, Dawn's assistant editor, took to his twitter account on Monday to point out that his name has appeared on the list.

"I am told and have been informed and have been shown evidence that I am on the Exit Control List," he tweeted.

The Exit Control List is an ordinance which empowers the Pakistan government to bar people whose names appear on the list from leaving the country.

Islamabad, Oct 10 : The National Security Committee met in Islamabad today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and discussed the situation arising from what it called ' unprovoked firing by the Indian security forces across the Line of Control and the Working Boundary'.

The Committee noted 'with deep concern that the continuing ceasefire violations by Indian forces had led to loss of precious lives and injuries to innocent people, including the fearless soldiers'.

Islamabad, Aug 16 : Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan is likely to back down on his demand for the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, sources within the party said.

According to the Dawn, sources say Imran may soften his demand and instead present a set of conditions that it expects the government to deliver as a course of action once he reaches the capital.

An unnamed party insider revealed that PTI will present a set of conditions to the government and if the government is sensible, they will deliver, adding that if the government met nine out of ten demands, the party would accept it.

Islamabad, Aug 4: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has approved the appointment of Lieutenant-General (retired) Mohammad Alam Khattak as the defence secretary, said a notification issued by the defence ministry on Monday.

Khattak replaces former defence secretary Lt. Gen. (retired) Asif Yasin Malik, who stepped down from his position last week after completion of his contract.

Lt. Gen. (retired) Alam Khattak had previously served on key positions in the military, including corps commander Quetta, Inspector General Frontier Corps (FC) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and chief of logistics at the GHQ, the Dawn reports.

In an interaction with the Dawn, Gilani questioned the need for Sharif to leave the country when Pakistan was at war with the Taliban in the northern parts.

He was quoted , as saying that he had no issue with Sharif going to Saudi Arabia to perform Umra, the fact remained that Pakistan needed him more at this time as he has a lot of responsibility being the country's premier.

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has asked Afghan President Hamid Karzai to plug the entry of militants fleeing into his country following a massive army operation against Taliban, officials said today.

A spokesman of the Prime Minister Office confirmed the telephonic contact between Sharif and Karzai for cooperation against the militants.

The call was made yesterday after reports emerged that more than 2,000 people have entered Afghanistan through the porous border since army launched operation against the Taliban in their stronghold of North Wziristan on Sunday.

Islamabad, May 29 : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "bullied" his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif over terrorism at their first meeting, a writer in a Pakistani newspaper said Thursday.

Jalees Hazir said in The Nation that Modi not "only bullied him over terrorism and (the) Mumbai attack but also showed him the way forward ... brushing issues of importance to Pakistan ... under the carpet.

"The irony is that though he might not be able to say it in so many words, this also seems to be our prime minister’s lopsided blueprint for peace with India," said Hazir, a freelance columnist.

New Delhi, May 27 - Prime Minister Narendra Modi will Tuesday meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif and other leaders from the Saarc countries in one of his first engagements after taking charge.

Modi, who talked to Sharif Monday, tweeted about their conversation saying the Pakistani prime minister's mother got emotional seeing his (Modi's) meeting with his mother on television following the Bharatiya Janata Party's victory in the election.

Islamabad, March 24 - Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Sunday that the government's direct talks with the Taliban would be held in a day or two.

"Talks between the government team and the Taliban's intermediaries are going ahead at a satisfactory pace and hoped that direct talks will start in a day or two," Xinhua quoted Sharif telling during a function.

"There will be peace and the country would get rid of extremism and terrorism," the prime minister said, adding that the restoration of peace will ensure economic prosperity in the country.

Islamabad, March 22 - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will lead a delegation to the Third Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) being held in The Hague, the Pakistani foreign ministry said Friday.

The Third NSS (March 24-25) will be attended by leaders from 53 countries and the UN, European Union, International Atomic Energy Agency and Interpol. Like the first two summits, Nuclear Security Summit 2014 aims to promote nuclear security through voluntary national actions and international cooperation, Xinhua reported Friday.